Getting Started With iPhoto

There are many different ways to organise images on a Mac, however, iPhoto undoubtedly has the edge due to the fact that it does all the hard work for you, leaving you with more time to create and capture new memories rather than tediously categorising the old ones.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to import images to your iPhoto library, organise and edit each one, and then share your work with friends and family.

iPhoto Explained

iPhoto is an Apple-developed application designed to help you edit and organise your entire image collection. With iPhoto, you can categorise your images by Event, Place, and Face, as well as enhance each photograph using a variety of features within the app such as Filters and Frames, for example. Additionally, iPhoto will assist you in arranging your images into a slideshow and creating calendars, books and greeting cards for every occasion.

Marketed as part of iLife '13 along with iMovie and GarageBand, the latest iteration of iPhoto is currently available to purchase for £10.49 in the App Store, and comes free of charge with every Mac purchased after 1st October 2013.

Import to Library

Every photograph imported into iPhoto is stored in your iPhoto library. From here, you are able to organise your images into categories for easy viewing.

Step 1: Launch iPhoto

Click the iPhoto icon.

Click the iPhoto icon in the Dock.

Step 2: Locate

Click File and then press Import to Library.

Click File on the toolbar running along the top of the screen and then press Import to Library.

Click Import.

Locate the file(s) you wish to import and then click Import.

Step 3: Import

Your selected file(s) will then be imported into your iPhoto library.

Your selected file(s) will then be imported into your iPhoto library and can be accessed by clicking Photos under the Library tab on the sidebar situated on the left-hand side of the application. Recently imported images can also be viewed by clicking Last Import or Last 12 Months under the Recent tab.

Tip: If you would like to import images from your digital camera, simply plug the camera into your Mac, launch iPhoto and click Import Photos to import all or Import Selected to import selected images.

Categorise by Event

Categorising batches of images by Event is a great way of organising your ever-growing photograph collection.

Step 1: Select an Album

Click Events.

Click Events on the sidebar. Here, you will see every single image you have ever imported, filed under the date each Event took place.

As you may have noticed, every Event in your library features a thumbnail image displaying a key photo from that Event that changes when skimmed over. This is so that you can see the contents of each Event at a glance without having to navigate away from the main screen.

Step 2: Name

Double-click Untitled Event to rename.

Hover over the album and then double-click Untitled Event to rename.

Enter the name of your Event.

Enter the name of your Event and then press the Return key on your keyboard to finish.

Categorise by Place

Assigning a location to your images is an incredibly useful feature for those who like to travel. iPhoto will display every photograph taken in the location that you navigate to on the interactive map for you to view.

Step 1: Highlight a Photograph or Event

Highlight an Event and then click Info.

Click Events on the sidebar. Highlight a photograph or Event and then click Info.

Step 2: Assign a Place

Click Assign a Place.

Click Assign a Place to add a location.

Enter the location where the photograph was taken.

Enter the location where the photograph was taken. iPhoto will automatically draw up a list of similar places to help you identify the exact location.

Adjust the location of the pin.

Adjust the location of the pin by clicking and dragging the pin around the map.

Categorise by Face

iPhoto uses face recognition software to identify the people who appear in your images and then categorises each person accordingly.

Step 1: View

Click Faces.

Click Faces on the sidebar. iPhoto will then display the Faces pane, along with a handful of unidentified faces to get you started.

Step 2: Identify

Click Unnamed under each face to identify.

Click Unnamed under each face to identify or press Show More Faces to view more. Once a person has been identified, iPhoto will remember that person from then on and label them correctly.

Edit Images

iPhoto includes powerful editing tools to help enhance your images and make a good photograph look even better.

Step 1: Select a Photograph

Press Edit.

Click on a photograph and then press Edit on the toolbar.

Step 2: Edit

Edit your photograph.

iPhoto will display the Quick Fix pane along with a number of quick fixes to enhance your image.

Click Effects.

Click Effects to add an effect to your photograph. Here, you can add a filter or frame to your image and edit the overall tone of the photograph.

Click Adjust.

Click Adjust to tweak the exposure, contrast and saturation of your image, along with the sharpness, definition, temperature and so forth.

Once you have finished editing, iPhoto will automatically save your work and you may then return to your library to share it with friends and family or select another image to enhance.

Share Images

Share your images with friends and family via social media, a slideshow, or even a printed product such as a greeting card or calendar.

Step 1: Highlight a Photograph or Event

Click Share.

Highlight a photograph or Event from your iPhoto library and then click Share.

Step 2: Share

Select an option from the Share menu.

Select an option from the Share menu and double-click. You will then be directed to the appropriate screen to share your image(s) or create the printed product of your choice.

Wrapping Up

In this tutorial, I have shown you how to import images to your iPhoto library and then organise, edit and share each one. Did you find this tutorial helpful? Feel free to ask a question if you are unsure about anything in particular.

Hannah Williams is a 26-year-old freelance writer from the United Kingdom. When not working, you will usually find Hannah walking her dogs in the Welsh countryside, growing fruit and vegetables or documenting life with one of her many cameras.